What is silicon dioxide?

Have you ever read the fine print on a bottle of supplements and in the “inactive ingredient list, you see “silicon dioxide” listed?

I am not an expert on the subject by any means, but after researching it briefly, I have concluded I don’t want to be eating ground up mineral rocks! Yes, that is what silicon dioxide is! Silica is found in 90% of the Earth’s foundation of rocks and sand. It is found in 3 ways of crystalline, amorphous and synthetic amorphous.

Crystalline silica is most frequently found in a form of rock called quartz. For those of you who are archaeologists, these terms are more familiar to you! Websters Dictionary quotes “quartz- a mineral consisting of silicon dioxide occurring in colorless and transparent or colored hexagonal crystals or crystalline masses”. (2) It is put in the white packets commonly found in pill bottles with the words “DO NOT EAT, THROW AWAY” on it. While these crystals have the capability to absorb moisture so the pills won’t get soft in the bottle, I am scratching my head trying to figure out why they say “DO NOT EAT”, yet put it in the pill or powder itself under the name silicon dioxide…???!!! :/

Amorphous minerals have no definite shape or form as a crystal. (2) Syntetic amorphous silica (SAS) is a man-made filler that is used in rubber, tires, shoes soles, human and animal nutrition, oral toothpaste, cosmetics, paper, and paint to name a few! (3) The article goes on to say, and I quote “SAS should not be confused with crystalline silica which has significant adverse health effects due to its specific structure. ” (3)

Silicon Dioxide is used as a “filler” product to prevent the machines from getting clogged up as the pills are made or the capsules are filled. Not only is it used as a anti-caking agent, but it can be used as a pesticide (due to the pill ingredients having exposure to agriculture, food handling and food prep) and as a “carrier” in regards to flavors or fragrances of food.

While I am only barely scratching the surface of this subject, I offer it to you as a strong suggestion to look at what you are putting into your mouth! This is not a scare tactic, but there is real food available in pill form that is void of silicon dioxide. If you would like to know more about these, please send me an email at mannafoldblessings@gmail.com.